Sweet and visually stunning: Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies is an easy musical watch and a trip down memory lane
A classic song and dance ride in an imagined Indian space, Archies, an Indian adaptation of Archie Comics, addresses contemporary issues and beckons the youth to think and lead in a long, indulgent film.
Starring: Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, Vedang Raina, Aditi Dot, Mihir Ahuja, Vinay Pathak, Koel Purie, Tara Sharma, Luke Kenny, Ally Khan, and Satyajit Sharma, among others.
When Zoya Akhtar and announced the making of The Archies as a film, many were puzzled. Social media has been abuzz with the film’s posters, images, songs, and the cast—with some calling it a nepotism vehicle.
To Akhtar and co-creator Reema Kagti’s credit, The Archies, an Indian adaptation of Archie Comics, is welcoming and immersive. While its back story is influenced by India’s post-independence history, where some people of British origin made the former colony their home, it is not perfect. Having said that, this bunch of polished and pretty young actors are impressive, and Akhtar’s film is a pleasant, if long, ride down memory lane.
Cutting through the white noise of ‘nepo-kids’ and online hype, none of the actors in this cast are greenhorns. While Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan is film trained, Agastya Nanda has been trained in some manner too. Khushi Kapoor has also been groomed for an acting debut since she was about ten years old.
The others in the cast—Dot. as she is credited, Aditi Dot is a popular YouTube singer, and daughter of late Amit Saigal, the founder of Rock Street Journal. Her mother, Sneha Gamat, is a theatre actor. Vedang Raina is a model, actor, and also a YouTube singer. Mihir Ahuja has acted in web series and ads. Trained by a veteran filmmaker and her team, these new actors are set to grow as performers, with a few capable of being singer-actors, a space that has stagnated in recent decades.
As for the rest of the cast, they are a nostalgic reminder of the MTV and Channel V VJs that became style icons. They play the parents and the grown-ups.
Set in 1960s India, the movie is set in Riverdale, a picturesque town where the Anglo-Indian community lives. They nurture their roots, literally, in the verdant Green Park where singing, skating, and babies in retro prams make for a welcoming sight.
The cast of Archies
Archie Andrews (Agastya Nanda) is the budding lead vocalist of the band, The Archies. He has set his heart on moving to London for a better future. His neighbour is the sweet natured home baker, Betty Cooper (Khushi Kapoor). She lives with her mother Alice Cooper (Koel Purie) and father Hal Cooper (Satyajit Sharma) who owns a book shop. Archie is infatuated with her, but wears his heart on his sleeve.
When Betty’s BFF Veronica Lodge (Suhana Khan) returns from London with her super rich father Hiram and mother (Ally Khan and Kamal Sidh) Archie re-ignites his childhood affections for Veronica. While Veronica is spoiled and self-obsessed, she is a big-hearted person. Jughead Jones (Mihir Ahuja) loves to eat and keeps warning Archie the consequences of flirting with both Betty and Veronica.
Reggie Mantle (Vedang Raina) is the son of the local newspaper editor and boss, Ricky Mantle (Luke Kenny) and Ethel Muggs (Dot.) is an ace hairdresser. Moose (Rudra Mahavurkar) just hangs with them, whereas Dilton Doiley (Yuvraj Menda) keeps displaying his ‘genius’ mind with his deep insights. There’s Midge Klump too (Santana Roach), besotted by Moose.
The gang of seventeen going on eighteen are best buddies and the life of Riverdale. They adore Pop Tate’s tailormade shakes and burgers, the shops in the town square, and their time as part-time employees in these local establishments.
Veronica is too privileged to work, but she has a soft spot for life and people in the town. As Hiram Lodge plans to bring in a big property development to this quaint town, life is disturbed. Through experiences and songs, Akhtar subtly addresses everything from alternate sexuality, corporate take overs, and political leanings. Her message is clear—be aware, be clued in, and don’t be clueless.
In an age of all-consuming social media and materialism, this is relevant for young audiences. In capturing the friction and fondness that the Archies gang have for each other, she has also cracked the tone of young relationships. Emotions run high but loyalty and affection do too. The humour, set in a comic book set up, works occasionally. Watch out for a scene between Jughead, Veronica, and Betty. Or the hilarious rendition of Lonely July at a fest.
The most endearing part of this film are the songs and dances. A special mention for the music—Ankur Tiwari, Aditi Dot (also Ethel), Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, and the Islanders. It is rich, poetic, and melodious. The songs—Sunoh, Va Va Voom (sung by Tejas, music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and lyrics by Javed Akhtar) , Everything is Politics (sung by Tejas, music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and lyrics by Aditi Dot and Javed Akhtar) and Plum Pudding (sung by Ankur Tiwari, lyrics by Shivani Akhtar and Javed Akhtar and music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy) are absolutely delightful.
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Va Va Voom features costumes and dance moves that are bound to catch on, just like the Senorita song did from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. While each one has been trained to dance like a dream, Suhana Khan and Aditi Dot stand out with their effortlessness. The candy floss and melt-in-the-mouth sweetness of the comic book is intact in each scene as cinematographer Nikos Andritsakis creates an effective, visually-lit world.
However, the film falters on pace and tempo. With multiple songs capturing the emotions of its characters and slowly moving the story forward, it is set up like a classic musical. A musical about teenagers navigating their experiences in a secure, visually appealing world might not be engaging to many.
Keeping with her filmmaking style, almost each character in Akhtar's movie has a crucial role to play in taking the plot ahead. Riverdale is candy floss cute—in outfits, homes, picket fences, and the vehicles. Their parents also have to adapt, and have a spiffy, catchy song to groove to. In adapting the world of the Archies to a film with a universal, relevant message, co-writers Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and Ayesha DeVitre have created an accurate reproduction, even if it somewhat alienating for many in India.
The story is easy to view and doesn’t take a lot of introspection. It is a relief from the recent rage-meets-violence forms of films that have done so well in India. It is a bit like the Christmas season, where all the battles of life come to rest with a cozy December.
On the acting front, each actor does a fine job, which is not a surprise in a Zoya Akhtar film. Agastya Nanda reminds one of a young Abhishek Bachchan and comes across as endearing and promising. Suhana Khan is impressive and very confident, also a great dancer. Khushi Kapoor is the most likeable character—sweet, subtle, and emotive. Aditi Dot is the most natural and effervescent while singing and dancing. Mihir Ahuja is good as are the actors that play parents.
Some touches given to each character—like a working widow taking home the biscuits from a council meeting to cut corners—are markers of novel-like humour. Among the top actors, Vedang Raina stands out with his presence and acting abilities. He is the most effective in scenes that require some seriousness.
The Archies flounders because of its run time, almost 2 hours and 23 minutes. It may be an acquired taste for some, but it is a sing along and is definitely a festive season movie.
Rating: 4/5
Edited by Megha Reddy